The working session took place in Hanoi on September 12, chaired by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet - Chairman of Son La Provincial People's Committee and Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – President and CEO of EVN.

EVN’s President and CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan making speech at meeting

Important contributions to the province's socio-economic development

At the meeting, EVN’s Vice President Pham Hong Phuong reported an overview of the power supply situation and investment in power projects in Son La province. In the first 8 months of 2025, commercial electricity output reached 601.14 million kWh; the whole year of 2025 is expected to reach about 929 million kWh, an increase of 8.97% compared to 2024. EVN and its units have supplied stable power, meeting the needs of socio-economic development and people's lives. To date, 100% of communes and wards in the province have access to the national grid, with the rate of households using electricity reaching 99.39%.

In the field of construction investment, EVN has put into operation many key projects, including Son La Hydropower Plant (total capacity of 2,400MW) and Huoi Quang Hydropower Plant (total capacity of 520MW), contributing an output of more than 46.9 billion kWh in the period of 2020 - 2024; contributing VND 14,066 billion to the local budget from 2016 to present. The 500kV, 220kV, and 110kV transmission grid systems in the area continue to be invested in and expanded to meet the increasing load demand. Medium and low voltage grid projects are invested by EVN with a total investment of nearly VND 760 billion in the period of 2021 - 2025. Thereby, contributing to ensuring power supply for the socio-economic development of the province and the Northwest region.

EVN’s Vice President Pham Hong Phuong (third from right) reports on power supply situation and construction investment of power projects in Son La province

In Son La province, EVN has researched and proposed the Son La Hydropower Plant Expansion Project. This is a special project of  Group A, with a total expected installed capacity of 800MW (including 2 units x 400MW). When put into operation, the project will contribute significantly to balancing the load of the national power system, increasing local budget revenue, and creating momentum for socio-economic development of the province.

In addition to this key project, Vice President Pham Hong Phuong said that EVN is also continuing to study the plan to build the expanded Huoi Quang Hydropower Plant (scale of 1 unit x 260MW), expected to operate in the period 2031-2035 along with 3 floating solar power (SPP) projects on Son La Hydropower Reservoir, with a total capacity of more than 1,150MWp/1,050MW, to take advantage of the hydropower potential - renewable energy in the locality. With the role of managing and operating Son La Hydropower Plant, EVN will be proactive in organizing and implementing investment in floating solar power projects, and will flexibly coordinate operations with hydropower plants in the area of ​​EVN (Son La, Huoi Quang, Ban Chat Hydropower Plants).

EVN leaders proposed that the People's Committee of Son La province direct departments and branches to promptly update and add the Son La Hydropower Expansion Project to the province's planning and land use plan; support the appraisal and approval of investment policies, and accept EVN as an investor to keep up with progress. Create favourable conditions for compensation, site clearance, and conversion of forest land use purposes, especially in key power projects. In addition, EVN hopes that Son La province will support EVN as the investor of floating solar power projects on Son La hydropower reservoir to effectively exploit clean energy potential, contributing to local economic development; consider and recommend to competent authorities to include the Moc Chau Pumped Storage Hydropower Project (900MW) in the power planning in the coming period.

Making Son La energy center of region

Highly appreciating the responsibility and contribution of EVN in investing in the construction of power projects in Son La province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong said that the power projects and works that have been and are being implemented by EVN in the province have really brought into play great and positive effects on many important aspects, such as: Son La Hydropower Project, Huoi Quang... and the near future are renewable energy projects.

Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong (right cover) making speech

The leaders of Son La province also expressed their hope that, from now until 2030, EVN will focus on implementing the expansion projects of Son La and Huoi Quang Hydropower Plants, thereby creating the premise to contribute an additional VND500 - 700 billion /year to the budget.

In addition, Son La province also hopes that EVN will pay due attention to and further promote investment in power transmission projects to release capacity for existing power plants, thereby promoting socio-economic growth for the province.

Regarding solar power projects, EVN leaders shared that with the advantages of existing infrastructure, facilities, and human resources, EVN is fully capable of investing promptly in this field to bring early effectiveness to the province's socio-economic development.

Translator: Mạnh Hùng